College Sports Blog

Overheard: Iowa State’s Paul Rhoads says Baylor offense is most ‘explosive’ his team will see

Here are some interesting soundbites from Iowa State’s head coach Paul Rhoads from his weekly press conference.

No Heisman, no problem
Up until this game, the Iowa State defense has given up 19.6 points per game. This year, the Baylor offense has scored more than that in six quarters during its games this year. Baylor has the third best scoring offense and throws for a nation-leading 390.7 yards per game.

When asked about Baylor losing Robert Griffin III, Rhoads said the following.

‘If you remember, when Nick stepped in they still had a pretty good day in the same offense and same offensive scheme as with the Heisman trophy winner out,’ Rhoads said. ‘They’re loaded with players. The receivers are at the top of the league, statistically speaking, with one having 168 yards per game. They also have two running backs that carry the ball effectively. Nick Florence can run the ball himself and I think he leads the league with 370 yards throwing. Combination, scheme and personnel; they’re a very explosive group.’

Stopping the run is priority No. 1
In last year’s 49-26 loss to the Bears, RG3 threw for 212 total yards. Where the Cyclones was hurt the most was on the ground. Terrance Ganaway had 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns while Griffin had 107 rushing yards of his own.

Rhoads said the defense tried to stop both the passing and running game last year and that’s why the team had a poor showing. This time around, Iowa State will focus on stopping the Baylor rushing attack.

‘You have to take away the run. We got [beat] last year by trying to stop both. You just need to stop one thing. That involves people doing their jobs and then we’ll rally and try to control the others. With that in mind, that’s how you’re going to give up some yards. With a field as wide as they make it and as vertical as they make it, you’re going to give up yards and obviously you’re going to give up points against it.’

Baylor’s struggling defense may help the Iowa State quarterback conundrum
Iowa State has yet to have a starter named for the game against Baylor. Whoever starts will get to face a defense that ranks near the bottom of every major defensive statistical category in the nation.

‘We need to get back on track regardless,’ Rhoads said. ‘We need to control what Iowa State does and do it more effective than the first half of the season. At the same time I say that, in three of those games we’ve had 37 points or more. We’ve got to do the things we do well.’

Homecoming with the Bears
The game against Baylor will be Iowa State’s homecoming. When asked about any added pressure from the event, Rhoads said that the game wasn’t any different than any other.

‘I think there’s a sense of pride that goes along with it,’ he said. ‘We believe it’s the most explosive offense that we’ve faced this year and that’s a mouthful after giving up 615 yards to an awfully good offense.’

Baylor’s Art Briles faces the facts
While an 0-3 start to conference play isn’t ideal, Briles said his team knows what it’s up against if it loses against the Cyclones this weekend.

‘Facts don’t lie. We live in a factual world and a factual system, and that’s why I’m saying we’re starting to clean,’ Briles said. ‘That’s the way we’re looking at it. If you have memories, the good ones you retain, and the bad ones, you learn from. That’s the way we’re approaching this situation. The towel is firmly draped over our shoulder. It’s not going anywhere. It’s a situation that you can spin it and make it bleak or you can make it hopeful. It just depends how you spin it, and I’m not going to spin it either way.